Dartmouth President to receive Semper Fidelis Award for work with veterans

Dartmouth President James Wright will be honored Saturday night, April 26, by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF) with the Semper Fidelis Award, which will be presented to Wright at the organization's 33rd annual Philadelphia Ball. Wright is to be honored for his efforts to ensure educational opportunities for wounded veterans.

President James Wright pictured with Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

The Semper Fidelis Award is presented each year to an outstanding American for their patriotic service. Although the award is not necessarily given to a member of the Marine Corps, Wright served three years as a U.S. Marine when he finished high school. The MCSF plans to recognize Wright for his work with the American Council on Education (ACE) to help injured veterans pursue higher education through the "Severely Injured Military Veterans: Fulfilling their Dreams" program. This program provides veterans with the resources necessary to develop a plan for education and includes academic advising to the injured veterans and their families as they begin to think about their educational and career goals. The program has hired three full-time college counselors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. Md., and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, to help veterans meet their educational aspirations.

"I'm deeply honored to have been chosen for this recognition by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation," said Wright. "I very much support the work that they do, and I share their conviction that access to education is one of the best ways that we can pay tribute to the men and women who serve and defend their country."

Christopher Randolph, President and CEO of the MCSF, said "As the president of a major institution of higher education, Jim Wright has shown a substantive commitment to accessible and affordable education for veterans and the children of veterans. Coupled with the fact that he is a former Marine, we're very proud to honor him."

Two Dartmouth alumni, Manning J. Smith '62 and Nathanial Fick '99, will also receive awards at the Philadelphia event. Smith, Executive Vice President of Indel Corporation, is to receive the Globe & Anchor Award for his long support and involvement with the MCSF. Fick, author of One Bullet Away:The Making of Marine Officer, a memoir about his training as a Marine and his time serving in a combat zone, will receive the Commandant's Award.

The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Magnus, will present the awards to the recipients.

The MCSF's mission is provide scholarships for higher education to the children of Marines and former Marines, particularly the children of veterans killed or wounded in action. Since 1962, the organization has awarded more than 21,000 scholarships and bonds totaling more than $34.6 million.

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